Having had my 749R SORN'd for the last 18 months for work and health reasons, I finally got its vicious misfire and cylinder head oil leak sorted (turned out to be the same problem) and decided that an MoT was now in order. After two false starts, one after finding that my usual, 57mm Termi-friendly testing station had shut down and the other when I decided that SC1s and a torrential thunderstorm were probably not a happy combo, I booked it into a new MoT station, just the hundred miles or so away. So fitted the MoTable not-taking-the-piss number plate and headed off to Perth in warm sunshine over some decidedly Ducati-friendly roads. Route was a fine balance of fun x being potentially able to argue to the constabulary that I was going 'directly' to and from the test centre. Only mildly dodgy moment was, having pulled over to check directions, I realised that I was sitting directly outside Perth nick, idling with that 57mm Termi and sans either MoT or Tax. All done and sailed through though and I'm really getting addicted to this machine. I've only got preload and damping roughly set up for me so far and, although the handling is scalpel-sharp, it's entirely and beautifully neutral (or will be once I've wound on some ride height). That much I expected: it really is the last generation of Ducati where EVERYTHING is adjustable and where every change makes a difference. Even the Öhlins suspension felt more oily-smooth than the semi-actives on my Multistrada. But the engine. Oh, the engine… …it's obviously had some serious TLC during its life and records show that the exhaust was set up with a remap by Wilf at Moto Rapido. This shows: the fuelling is perfect, roll-on smooth and grunty and the top-end a perfect segue from the thraaping bellow of a prowling Duke to the howling of a hunting sabre-tooth. Just the right amount of power to feel that you're working the bike (I think dyno records show a smidge over 130bhp) and enough performance not to feel remotely lacking, even after the less-subtle arm-dislocation behaviour of my Multi. But this is not remotely a machine for towns: yes, I'm a deal older than I was when I last ran a sports bike, but back and wrists definitely suffer below highway speeds, the exhaust is a real arse-broiler and the noise is actually embarrassing through towns and villages. And 3rd gear overtakes of tourist cars dawdling along with their windows down were, I suspect, incontinence inducing. I've ridden many motorcycles over more decades than I care to (or can) remember. This one is very, very special indeed.
Yes, I went over everything about three times, just to make sure! But that's life in the Highlands. the only advisory was for slight brake pressure fluctuations, which is usually down to gunge in't disc bobbins.
Use a suitable nut and bolt through the bobbin and do it up so it grips the bobbin firmly. Spray the bobbin liberally with something that will dissolve the accumulated gunge but not be oily enough to contaminate the pads (I used Cillit Bang kitchen degreaser) use a power drill to spin up the nut and bolt and the bobbin too. Use something like a rag or kitchen towel to soak up the gunge that emerges. Repeat till bobbin is free enough to make a distinct clicking/tapping noise when you move it. Repeat for all bobbins.
Del Boy uses brake cleaner, which is undoubtedly efficient but I didn't want to get brake cleaner on my rims or tyres. I'm not sure how harmful it is to paint - can anybody confirm?
A far quicker way to free up the bobbins is to use a stud extractor and a tap wrench. Doing it this way is a few min job .The extractor doesn't mark the inside of the bobbins .
